Rep. [crscore]Charlie Dent[/crscore], a surrogate for Gov. John Kasich, encouraged Kasich supporters in Indiana to vote for the Ohio governor because it’s not a sure thing that other Kasich voters will back [crscore]Ted Cruz[/crscore].

In an interview with Steve Kornacki on MSNBC Tuesday, Dent said, “Ted Cruz for some time has been saying to John Kasich to drop out of the race. Had John Kasich done that, Donald Trump would have sewed up this nomination some time ago. So actually, Ted Cruz has always needed John Kasich in the race because Kasich voters aren’t necessarily likely to just jump to Ted Cruz.” Kasich And Cruz Campaigns Team Up To Stop Trump

“If you want to stop Donald Trump and if you want to give Kasich a shot at any kind of open convention this summer, Trump has got to lose Indiana,” Kornacki asked him. “So tactically we know John Kasich is pulling out of there in terms of spending time there, in terms of spending resources there. But the point you just heard Matt Lauer make in that ‘Today’ show interview is, look, even if he’s not there, if people are checking off John Kasich’s name on the ballot, that could ultimately help Donald Trump there. So from your standpoint, as a Kasich supporter who doesn’t think Donald Trump is electable, what do you want the voter in Indiana who kind of likes John Kasich right now but wants to stop Donald Trump? What do you want that voter to do?”

“I would tell them still to vote for John Kasich because I cannot presume for a second that a John Kasich supporter will automatically vote for Ted Cruz. I think that’s a bad assumption to make,” Dent said. Adding, “Even if John Kasich were to direct them to do that.”

“I believe that if you’re going to vote for John Kasich, you should stay there because you couldn’t rely on a Kasich voter necessarily to go vote for Ted Cruz. I think there’s a good chance that that person may end up voting for Donald Trump.”

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